Surveys begin as new reservoir plans resurrected

It is hoped a second reservoir would benefit customers across the "Greater South West", the water company said

Engineers have begun surveying land south of Bristol as plans for a new reservoir are resurrected.

South West Water confirmed it is looking at constructing a second reservoir near Cheddar in Somerset.

It is hoped the new reservoir - known as Cheddar 2 - would help with the drinking water supply for Bristol and across the South West, and was included in the water company's five year business plan.

“As part of our 2025-2030 business plan we’re resurrecting plans for the Cheddar 2 reservoir, that will benefit customers across the Greater South West," the company said in a statement.

It added that it is in the "early stages" of planning and is carrying out surveys to "inform the design of the scheme".

“Across our entire region we are working hard to develop a multi-faceted demand and supply strategy to protect our supplies and break the cycle of drought," it said.

The plans were first proposed by Bristol Water in 2013, but the water watchdog Ofwat said it had "significant concerns" over whether a second Cheddar reservoir would be in the interests of customers.

Bristol Water dropped the plan in 2018 and the company was later bought out by the Pennon Group - which also owns South West Water.

The company said it will be sharing updates on the Cheddar 2 plans over the coming months.

"Alongside Cheddar 2 plans, we are re-purposing disused quarries, investing in desalination, and looking at new river abstraction permits," the company added.